On 30 Mar 2005 15:54:00 GMT, "Kev" <Kev@hotmail.com>, in message ID

Hi Paul,
Great news mate. Seems like a few people are getting good results from
the interferon and ribavirin combination. I haven't started treatment
myself because of my other health problems but it is encouraging for
when I do. Apparently, I have the hep c strain that needs a year of
treatment rather than 6 months. Just as a matter of interest which one
did you have?

Hi Kev.
Yes, the treatment for hep-c has got more and more effective over the
years. Adding ribavirin to the mix was a big move some years back and
the invention of pegylated interferon (1 shot a week instead of 3)
increased the number of people clearing too.
I don't blame you for deferring treatment until your other health
problems are sorted. The treatment itself has the potential to cause
problems - although, as I'm sure you've noted, regular blood
monitoring occurs while on the treatment.
I'm sorry to hear that you have a less favourable genotype Kev
(genotype 1 I presume?).
I got lucky with that. I had genotype 2b which "only" required 24
weeks of the treatment. Also, my blood counts held up well so I was
on the full dose all the way through.
Do you know the condition of your liver Kev?
Although the blood tests can tell part of the story, the only reliable
way to check is via liver biopsy - and even they have a margin for
error.
If it's of any use to you, I go to a hep-c support group in Worthing
once a month.

It's at Worthing Baptist Church, Christchurch Rd,
Worthing. Currently they are on the last Wednesday of each month from
1 PM till 2 PM.
It's a small group with a mix of people. Some ex-users, some
currently using and some who've never used but got hep-c through other
means.
Good to hear from you again Kev.